Washington (CNN) - The Republican-controlled House of Representatives on Thursday passed the GOP leadership's 2013 budget plan - a measure that has no chance of passing the Democratic-controlled Senate but creates a clear contrast between the two parties on a number of critical tax and spending issues ahead of the general election.

The resolution passed in a strongly polarized 228-191 vote. No Democrats backed the measure; only 10 Republicans opposed it.

(CNN) - The House of Representatives has passed the GOP leadership's 2013 budget plan - a measure that has no chance of passing the Senate but draws a clear contrast with Democrats on a number of critical tax and spending issues.

Washington (CNN) – It's not a permanent fix, nor will repairs suddenly happen to certain run-down roads, but congressional lawmakers have passed a 90-day extension of the federal transportation budget just ahead of an end-of the-month deadline.

If Congress had failed to act, funding for transportation projects would have run out. President Obama must still sign the measure.FULL POST

Washington (CNN) - As Congress prepares to vote on the Republican budget plan submitted by Rep. Paul Ryan, some budget experts believe that he federal government is so far in the red that it may not balance the budget again in our lifetime.

"We may never, as a country, have a balanced budget again," said Marc Goldwein, policy director for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. "And you know what? We don't have to."

Washington (CNN) - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney picked up two more big endorsements this week, but neither appears likely to have much impact on sealing the deal for the GOP front-runner.

Tea party favorite Sen. Marco Rubio, often touted as a top possibility to be No. 2 on a GOP ticket, endorsed Romney on Wednesday, telling Fox News that, "It's evidently and increasingly clear that Mitt Romney is going to become the Republican nominee. We have to come together behind who I think has earned the nomination, and that's Mitt Romney."

Washington (CNN) - Senate Republicans on Thursday blocked a Democratic measure championed by President Barack Obama to end tax breaks for the major oil companies.

The procedural vote of 51-47, which failed to reach the needed threshhold of 60, killed the measure, which was given little chance of eventually winning approval in the Republican-controlled House. Four Democrats opposed the bill while one Republican supported it.

Washington (CNN) - After six terms in the Senate, Indiana's Richard Lugar finds himself the latest target of the tea party movement's desire both to have more influence over the policy agenda in Congress and to make the Republican Party more conservative.

"He's an old RINO Republican," Jim Bratten, an Indiana coordinator for Tea Party Patriots, said of Lugar, meaning he's a Republican in name only. "He's been there [in Washington] for over 36 years, but gradually he's gotten closer and closer to the left, and he seems to want to compromise on things that are principle that you really can't compromise on."

(CNN) - The number of Americans who said gasoline prices are the most important economic problem facing the country has more than tripled since December, according to a new poll.

The CNN/ORC International survey released Thursday, the same day President Barack Obama delivered a speech about gas prices, indicated oil companies received most of the blame for higher prices at the pump.